By State Senator Ned Needleman.
I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. I want to share with you a few updates regarding the reopening of Connecticut. If my office can be of assistance to you please call 860-240-0428 or email Needleman@senatedems.ct.gov.
Connecticut Continues to Reopen; Phase 2 Now in Effect
As coronavirus hospitalizations in Connecticut have continued to decline, the state has entered Phase 2 of the reopening process. There are still guidelines set in place that include social distancing from others and wearing face masks while out in public.
Businesses included in Phase 2 reopening include:
- Hotels
- Amusement parks
- Libraries
- Indoor dining
- Indoor museums, zoos, and aquariums
- Indoor recreation (bowling, movie theaters)
- Personal services (nail salons, tattoo parlors)
- Sports and fitness facilities (gyms, fitness centers, pools)
Updated Guidance on Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings
As hospitalizations from COVID-19 continue to decline in Connecticut and the state begins to return back to normalcy, Governor Lamont has released new guidance for indoor and outdoor gatherings for the next several weeks.
Effective Now:
If you have an indoor private gathering, you can have up to 25 people there. An outdoor gathering, you can have up to 100 people. At an outdoor event venue such as an amphitheater or racetrack, there can be 25% of fire capacity and social distancing needs to be practiced.
Effective on July 3:
Indoor private gatherings will remain up to 25 people and outdoor private gatherings will remain up to 100 people with a one-time exception of 150 people for graduations. Outdoor organized gatherings such as fireworks or concerts in municipal parks will be allowed with the order of 15 feet of space from blanket to blanket, with a cap of 500 people.
Effective Mid-July (Date to be Determined):
Indoor private gatherings will be allowed to increase to 50 people and outdoor private gatherings will be allowed to increase to 250 people. At an outdoor event venue such as an amphitheater or racetrack, there can be 50% of fire capacity and social distancing needs to be practiced.
Staying Safe While Kayaking
I recently heard from a constituent who was concerned about the safety of kayakers. While kayaking is a wonderful form of recreation, this constituent was concerned that many kayakers are flaunting safety rules, and as a result are coming close to injury and collisions with other boaters. If you’re going out kayaking, here are some tips you can use to keep yourself safe.
- Keep an eye on weather, especially wind. A bad wind gust could make it difficult to return to shore.
- Always follow local boating rules. You don’t want to have an unnecessary run-in with another boater.
- Always check your equipment for wear and tear and never exceed the weight capacity of your boat.
- Wear a personal flotation device at all times. Wearing your life jacket won’t just help you in an emergency but also makes sure other boaters can see you at all times.
- When paddling somewhere for the first time, monitor currents, shoreline conditions and patterns, and prepare an escape route if necessary.
- Try to avoid motorboats if possible. They are much faster than you and harder to maneuver; distance will keep everyone safe.
PURA Encourages Residents to Access Federal Lifeline Program
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact residents across the state, Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is reminding people that the federal Lifeline Program has resources to help low-income customers who are having connectivity issues with broadband and telephone services.
The program offers monthly discounts on certain products to those who are eligible. Benefits are limited to one per qualifying household. Those who are eligible for the Lifeline Program if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Customer participates in certain federal benefits programs, such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Federal Public Housing, or the Veterans Pension and Survivor’s Benefit
- Customer’s household income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Recommendations to Businesses to Flush Water In Pipes Before Reopening
As more businesses continue to reopen bringing the state back to normal following the coronavirus pandemic, commercial customers who were closed because of the virus are being reminded that the water inside their building’s plumbing system may be unsafe. Any water left in pipes of a building could become stagnant and present health, safety and taste concerns.
It is recommended that building owners follow the guidance from the Department of Public Health (DPH) to properly flush out their internal plumbing. Before reopening, DPH recommends that businesses bring their water systems back into service by thoroughly and methodically flushing all faucets, shower heads, ice makers and other water fixtures with cold water first and hot water second. The full steps recommended can be found here.
Preparing for Severe Weather & COVID-19
Planning for hurricane season and other potential disasters can be stressful, and because the 2020 hurricane season comes during the coronavirus pandemic, it may be especially so. Public health and emergency response professionals have provided tips to safely prepare, evacuate and shelter for severe storms to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. They include:
- Understand your planning may be different because of the need to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
- Give yourself more time to prepare emergency food, water and medicine supplies.
- Protect yourself and others when filling prescriptions by limiting in-person visits to the pharmacy.
- Pay attention to local guidance about plans for evacuations and shelters including potential shelters for your pets.
- If you need to evacuate, prepare a ‘go kit’ with personal items you cannot do without during an emergency. Include items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19 such as hand sanitizer, bar or liquid soap and two cloth face coverings for each person.
- When you check on neighbors, make sure to follow social distancing recommendations.
New CDC Guidelines for Traveling Overnight
If you plan to travel anywhere and stay in a hotel, there are some preventative measures against COVID-19 that the CDC has rolled out. First, ask the hotel what the cleaning / disinfecting policy is for frequently touched surfaces. If you’re doing your own disinfecting, make sure to wear disposable gloves, follow product directions and make sure there’s good ventilation. When walking through a hotel, try to take the stairs and try to use the places where you might end up 6 feet from other people.
Lake Compounce Announces Plans to Open for Season in July
Lake Compounce has announced they are opening for the summer season starting July 1. The park will open for Season Passholder Appreciation Days starting July 1 through July 5 and then Monday, July 6, the park will be open to the general public. The theme park will be making changes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and adding additional safety measures. The park plans to limit capacity in the park, on individual attractions, restaurants, and buildings to allow for social distancing. Guests will be required to RSVP for what day they want to visit the park, in addition to purchasing a ticket or holding a season pass which are only being sold online this summer. Both guests and employees will have to have their temperature checked before entering the park and all guests and employees will be required to wear face coverings except on water attractions and while swimming.
Foxwoods Resort Casino adding Additional Safety Measures
Foxwoods Resort Casino has reopened to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic with many new safety protocols in place, and now they are implementing additional safety standards and cleaning protocols for hotel visits. The FoxClean door seal will indicate that your room has been completely sanitized and is ready for your stay. To see the full list of their hotel safety enhancements, you can click here.
